23-year-old arrested in Silknet data breach case involving thousands of users’ personal data

A 23-year-old man has been apprehended in connection with the recent breach of Tbilisi-based Silknet telecommunication company’s computer system, leading to the exposure of thousands of users’ identity documents, the Georgian Interior Ministry confirmed on Thursday. 

The agency’s statement revealed that unauthorized access to Silknet’s computer system had resulted in the compromise of personal data belonging to approximately 5,000 subscribers.

“The detainee attempted to illicitly sell this data on the internet,” the Ministry said, with the suspect facing a maximum sentence of six years in prison if found guilty. 

The telecommunications company previously claimed “a small group of users,” roughly 2,000 individuals, had been compromised from their databases. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had determined that a significantly larger amount of data was compromised from the telecommunication company.

The Personal Data Protection Service initiated an investigation on March 18 into the case.

Silknet boasts a customer base of over a million. As of December 2023, data published by the company on its website indicated 1,859,784 mobile network subscribers, 154,555 fixed network subscribers, 339,452 fixed broadband subscribers and 259,673 pay TV users.